Attachment for buttonhole machines



C. E. CASGRAIN. ATTACHMENT FOR BUTTONHOLE MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 10, I920- Patented Jan. 24, 1922.

3 SHEET SHEET I.

C. E. CASGRAIN. ATTACHMENT FOR BUTTONHOLE MACHINES.

' APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 10. 1920.

1,404,372, Patented Jan. 24, 1922.

C. E. CASGRAIN.

ATTACHMENT FOR BUTTONHOLE MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. I0 I920.

Patented Jan. 24, 1922.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3T "Illllmmllll UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES E. CASGRAIN, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

ATTACHMENT FOR BUTTONHOLE MACHINES.

Application filed September 10, 1920. Serial No. 409,361.

T all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES E. GAsoniuN, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Chicago, in the county of Cook, State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Attachments for Buttonhole Machines, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to buttonhole machines and more particularly to an attachment' therefor by means of which the stitching and cutting may be stopped immediately by the operator in case something goes wrong, as for example, breaking of a needle or thread, shifting of the goods worked upon, or other causes. My invention is designed particularly for association with the well known type of machine known as the Reece machine. In this type of machine, the stitching mechanism first operates to stitch for the buttonhole and then the cutting mechanism becomes operative to out the hole. The operator is provided with means for stopping further stitching in case something goes wrong, but no provision is made to assure prevention of the cutting operation by the knife after the stitching mechanism has been stopped and on account of this, work is frequently spoiled. The main objectof my invention is, therefore, to provide mechanism which can be readily attached'to existing machines and which when operated will not only immediately stop the stitching mechanism but will also positively block operation of the cutting mechanism. With my attachment therefore the stitching may go wrong but the stitches can be readily withdrawn. But there is no chance for erroneous cutting and the work will not be ruined.

On the accompanying sheets of drawings, I have shown just enough of a Reece buttonhole machine to illustrate the purpose and operation of my improved attachment. On these drawings, v

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view,

Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional view substantially on plane 22, Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view on plane 3-3, Fig. 2,

Fig. 4 is a sectional view similar to that of Fig. 3, showing different relative positioning of operative parts,

Fig. 5 is an enlarged sectional view on plane 5-5, Fig. 1 and Fig. 6 is a section on line 66, Fig. 2.

My attachment requires no change or reconstruction of any kind in a buttonhole machine of the Reece type and I shall therefore more or less generally describe the construction and operation of the Reece machine to which I have shown my attachment applied, the machine itself being disclosed and its operation described in Reece Patent No. 655,637 of August 7th, 1900, and Hill Patent No. 713,764 of November 18th, 1902. The stitch frame 10 overhangs at its front the work receiving table 11 and journals the needle bar 12 having at its lower end the needle 13, the bar being reoiprocated by mechanism described in the patent referred to and being rotated by the mechanism 14. The plates or feet 15 are provided for clamping the work on the table 11 and are operated all as fully disclosed in said patents. 16 is the cutter frame whose operating mechanism isnot shown here. At the rear of the stitch frame is journaled the stitching shaft 17 adapted to be driven by a belt 18 on pulley 19, the clutch mechanism designated as a whole by 20 serving at the proper time to connect the pulley with the shaft.

21 represents the feed shaft which extends transversely of the machine below the reciprocating table 22 which carries the stitching frame 10. This feed shaft carries the worm 23 which meshes with the gear teeth (not shown) on the large cam 24 which controls the shifting of the tabl 22 and other operating mechanism, all as fully disclosed in said prior patents referred to. At its outer end, the feed shaft has secured thereto, the arm 25 which has the clutch lug 26 secured thereto. Just within this arm the feed shaft carries the belt pulley 27 and the hub 28', both loosely mounted on the shaft and the hub having the clutch tooth 29 extending through the opening 30 in the pulley for co-operation with the clutch tooth 26 on the arm 25 when the hub is shifted outwardly on the shaft. hen the clutch lugs are engaged the rotation of the pulley by the belt 31 will be communicated through the arm 25 to the feed shaft. At its inner end the hub receives the clutch collar 32 which is connected with the arm 33 of the clutching frame 34 which is pivoted at 35 clearly indicated in Fig. 2. This clutching frame 34 and its functions are clearly disclosed in the prior patents referred to. Like in said patents, its hook 36 receives the stud 37 adjustably secured on the clutch releasing lever 38 and extending through the slot 39 in said lever. The clutch releas ing lever is pivoted at 40 (Fig. 2) and at its front end is normally locked out by the dog 41 extending from the starting lever 42, this normally positively holding stud 37 against the hook 36 to thereby normally lock the clutching frame 34 in unclutching position. The compression spring 43 tends to termittently forwardly and rearwardly dur-v ing stitching of a buttonhole. At other times movement of the stitching frame is effected when the feed shaft is rotated by the pulley 27.

Below the stitch shaft 17 is the rock shaft d8 from which extends the arm 49 carrying at its'outcr end the frame 50 forming part of the clutch mechanism for connectingthe pulley 19 in driving relation with the stitch shaft. The rock shaft also carries the three lever having the arms 51, 52 and 53, the arm 52 extenoing downwardly through the slot 54; formed in the clutching frame 34. Below'th'e rock shaft the bed of the machine supports the controlling bar 55 which has the incline 56, while at the left end of the arm 51 is located'the mechanism for co-operating with the controlling bar. This mechanism comprises the lever 57, the radius bar 58, and the spring 59 which connects the upper end of the bar with the tail 60 of the lever 57 and tends to hold the outer end of said lever down. At the lower end of the radius bar is the roller 61 for cooperating with the upper surface of the controlling bar '55. The lever 57 has the toe 62 and the notch 63 which notch norfrom the stop block as shown in Fig. 0.

mally receives the pin 64 on which the roller 61 is journaled. The lever 57 has also the other pin 65 which is normally held behind the post 66 extending from the machine bed.

On the arm 53 of the three-armed lever is secured the stop block 67, while a spring 68 connects between the end of this arm and the stitching frame. On the bracket .69 supported on the stitching frame is pivoted the latch lever 7 0 which has the shoulder 71 for receiving at a certain time the stop block 67. A spring 72 tends to swing the lever inwardly but normally a stop screw 73 abuts against the machine bed to hold the lever swung outwardly with its shoulder away:

tonhole is first accomplished and then the hole is cut. Very often the stitching goes wrong, as for example, when the needle breaks or bends, or the thread tears, and it 7 is then very important to immediately stop the stitching, and itis more important that operation of the cutting mechanism be blocked to prevent cutting of the buttonhole so as to permit removal of the false stitches before erroneous cutting of the cloth. In the machine to which my invention is applied, the operation of the stitching meehanismcan be immediately stopped by swinging the actuating arm 74 of the latch lever forwardly, but unless the operator stops the entire machine by actuation of the foot pedal, there is no assurance that operation of the cutting mechanism will be blocked in time to prevent cutting of the buttonhole. Erroneous cutting of buttonholes is, of course, a very serious matter as expensive work may be thus readily spoiled. It is the purpose of my invention to provide means not only for quickly. stopping the stitching mechanism froma convenient position, but also for at the same time immediately blocking any such operation of the machine as would otherwise'cause operation of the cutting mechanism.

Describing now my improved attachment,

a shaft 75 extending longitudinally of the machine at one side of the base of the stitching frame, is journaled in the brackets 76 and 77, the bracket 76 being secured to the side of the stitching frame and the bracket 77 being clamped to the rear end thereof by means of a plate 78 and the clamping screws 79 which extend. through the opening 80 in the rear wall of the stitching frame. At its front end the shaft 75 carries the actuating arm 81 by which it may be rocked, while at its inner-end it has the upstanding arm 82 connected by link 83 with the bell crank shaped triplever 8 1- which is pivoted at 85 on the 'end of the bracket 69. 'The inner end of the trip lever is behind the actuating arm 7 f for the latch lever 70. The shaft'75 is intendedto be rotated in clockwise direction looking from the front of: the machine and on the link 83 is the abutment'nut 86 for the cushion spring 87. which surrounds the link and engages against the rear end of th trip lever 84c, the end of the link receiving the adjusting nut 88. I

Secured to the shaft '75 are the collars and 90 between which extends the cam bar 91. On the stationary bed plate of the machine is secured the bracket 92 in which is journaled intermediate its ends the bar 93 whose inner end is in the path of the cam bar 91, a spring 94 tending to hold the bar in such cam bar engaging position. At its outer end the bar has the laterally extending arm 95 having at its end the depending stop lug 96 which lug is in front of the rear end of the lever 38 when the bar 93 is engaged by the cam bar so that in such position of these parts, the lug will prevent outward swing of the lever 38 at its rear end, the lev r when thus locked having its stud 37 engaging with the hook 36 of the clutching frame 34: to hold said frame in its inner position with the hub 28 in far enough to prevent cooperation of the clutch lug 29 with the lug 26 on the arm 25 extending from the feed shaft 21.

Normally the arm 81 is down with the cam bar 91 in position to permit spring 9% to rotate the bar 93 to swing its detent end 96 away from the lever 38, as shown in dotted lines Fig. 6, the trip lever Set being at the same time swung out of the path of the actuating arm 74, as shown in Fig. 4.

Briefly describing now the operation of the machine itself, and together with such operation the purpose and function and operation of my attachment, the operator first inserts the piece of work under the clamping shoes 15 and then after actuating the foot pedal to connect a countershaft with the machine, she depresses the starting lever 42. This releases the lever 38 at its front end and the pressure of the spring 43 against the lever is overcome by the pull of spring 97 on. the clutching frame 34, this frame being then swung to cause outward shift of the hub 28 and projection of the clutch lug 29 into the path of the lug 26 on the lever 25 so that the feed shaft 21 will be rotated. Swing of the clutch lever also brings the end of its slot 54 against the arm 52 of the stitching controlling mechanism. Immediately upon rotation of the shaft 21 the cam 2 is rapidl r rotated, and, as fully disclosed in the prior patents referredto, the stitching head f ame together with its associated mechanism (Figs. 3 and at) travels rearwardly and eventually co-operates with the controlling bar 55 to rotate the rock shaft 48, and as soon as the. rock shaft is rocked, the arm 49 is swung downwardly to move the clutch mechanism 50 to permit the belt 18 to rotate the shaft 17 so that the stitching mechanism begins to operate. Also, as soon as the shaft 48 is rocked and before stitching begins, the depending arm 52 is swung and carried at its lower end into engagement with the clutching frame 3a to swing said frame on its pivot 35 against the force of the spring 97, and upon swing of such frame the hub 28 is shifted inwardly to disconnect the pulley 27 from driving connection with the feed shaft.

After starting of the machine the stitch frame travels rearwardly and the abutment screw 73 leaves the machine frame and permits the latch lever to carry its shoulder '71 over the stop block 6. as shown in Fig. +1.. The parts are then held in stitching operative position. After one side of the buttonhole has been stitched, the stitching head frame travels forwardly and the parts will again assume the normal position, the clutch mechanism 50 being then released to stop the stitching operation and the rock shaft being turned back to cause the lever 52 to release the clutching frame to permit the spring 97 to return the hub 28 so that the high speed pulley 27 may again connect with the feed shaft, whereupon the knife mecha-- nism is operated to cut the buttonhole ant. the machine is returned to normal position ready for another buttonhole forming and cutting operation.

If, during the stitching operation the needle should bend or break or the thread should tear, or for any other reason, it be comes desirable to stop the stitching and to prevent cutting so that any false stitching may be unraveled and the operation restarted correctly, the operator swings the arm 81 inwardly to rock the shaft 75. Such rocking causes inward shift of the link 83 and rotation of the trip lever 8% with its inner end against the back of the actuating arm 74 of the latch lever 70, and this latch lever is swung reari ardly to the position shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3 thereby effecting release of the stop block 67 from the shoulder 71 and causing the stitching operation to be stopped and permitting suflicient rocking of the shaft 48 by spring 68 to enable the arm 52 to release the clutching frame 34 (Fig. 2). If the clutching frame were allowed to swing outwardly the hub 28would be shifted to bring the pulley 27 into driving connection with the shaft 21. However, such swing is prevented as when the shaftis rotated the cam bar 91 will he brought under the bar 93 and this bar will be swung to carry its stud 96 in front of the lever 38 (full lines Fig. 6), and the stud 37 carried by this lever being in front of the hook 36 of the clutching frame, the frame is not permitted to swing and consequently clutching of the pulley 27 to the feed shaft is prevented.

Thus, by means of a simple attachment, the swing of a lever in a convenient position for the operator will immediately stop the stitching operation and will also positively and immediately block operation of the cutting mechanism. The operator can then un ravel the false stitching or properly reset the work in the machine.

During the stitching operation, the clutching frame 3a travels with the stitching head but the lever 38 does not travel, and owing to the relative position between the hook 33 and the stud 3T durin stitching operation, the lever 38 cannot be swung sufficiently by its spring 43 topermit its outer end to re turn to locking engagement with the dog il of the starting lever 42. When the actuating arm of shaft 7 5 is released after stepping of the stitching operation, the machine can continue its operation and at the end of a cycle, the relative position of the stud 37 and hook 36 will permit sufficient swing of the lever 38 to enable its front end to be again latched and locked y the dog ll.

I. claim as follows:

1. in a buttonhole sewing machine, the combination of stitching mechanism, setting mechanism for controlling the operation of said stitching mechanism, a latch lever for locking said setting mechanism in stitching operation position, cutting mechanism, driving mechanism therefor, clutch mechanism for controlling the connection of said cutting mechanism with its drive mechanism, and an attachment for the machine comprising a rock shaft having an actuating arm, a tripping lever associated with saidlatch lever, a train connecting said tripping lever with said rock shaft, rocking of said shaft causing operation ofsaid tripping lever to release said latch lever to thereby stop operation of the stitching mechanism, a stop lug, and means controlled during rocking of said rock shaft to interpose said stop lug in the path of said clutching mechanism whereby to block operation of the cutting mechanism after stoppage of the stitching mechanism.

2. In a buttonhole sewing machine, the combination of stitching mechanism, setting mechanism for controlling, the operation of said stitching mechanism, a latch lever for locking said etting mechanism in operative position, 'buttonhole cutting mechanism, driving mechanism for said cutting mechanism, clutch mechanism for controlling the connection of said cutting mechanism with said driving mechanism, a clutchingframe connected with said clutching mechanism, means controlled upon setting of said setting mechanism for stitching operation to lock said clutching frame in unclutching position to thereby prevent operation of the cutting mechanism, a clutch lever having a stud cooperating with said clutching frame, a rock shaft on said machine,'a tripping lever'connected with said rock shaft and adaptedto engage with and release the latch lever of the setting mechanism'when said rock shaft is artuated, whereby the operation of, the stitching mechanism is'stopped, a stop lug, and means connecting said lug with said rockshaft for causing setting of said lug in the path of said clutch lever when the rock shaft is operated to thereby block return of said clutch frame toclutching position when said stitching mechanism is stopped, thereby preventing; cutting'of the buttonhole after partial or erroneous stitching. r

In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe mv name this' rd day of September, A. D.

1920. r CHAR-LES E. CASGRAIN. 

